The French troops in Estonia helping to protect Nato's eastern flank

The UK commands Nato's Enhanced Forward Presence Battlegroup (EFP) with more than 900 troops stationed in Estonia.
But, contributing 350 troops to the EFP is France, which also holds the post of Deputy Commander to the Battlegroup.
What is the French contingent's capability and how do they work with their UK counterparts?
More: www.forces.net/nato/inside-natos-french-contingent-estonia
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[@alsenar2]

What a time to be alive to see French, British and German soldiers fighting side by side. I am glad that those 3 nations are brothers in arms nowadays and not enemies anymore.

[@etorepugatti9196]

As a French, I couldn't agree more !

[@ihmpall]

I did naazi that

[@user-xy4hu9np3r]

The Lord used the Russians to punish germany for what they did to the Jews. I would love to see the right unite in every country, for example biden is friends with zelensky, this makes me friends with Putin.

[@Centurion1993]

French uniforms, equipment and vehicles always look so modern and fresh 😍👌🇬🇧🇫🇷

[@manicmangomango8118]

Disgusting ar15 type rifle compaired to famas

[@indigoskyfall9862]

You can see “modern” French equipment strewn all over Ukraine, mostly burning

[@bigladlarry3549]

@@indigoskyfall9862 Only burning equipment I've been seeing a lot of recently are Russian/Soviet pieces older than myself with flaming orcs hanging out the side of.

[@bb-6359]

@@indigoskyfall9862 here comes the vatnik. And we also see literally thousands of Russian tanks, IFV's, and APC's strewn throughout Ukraine. Currently 10,448 Russian pieces of equipment visually confirmed to be either destroyed, abandoned, or captured. Of that, almost 2,000 Russian tanks. And this is only visually confirmed losses. Keep coping.

[@florentleider222]

@@indigoskyfall9862 putin licker

[@steveh5005]

Great soldiers the French. I attended their commando course and they were in Gulf war 1 north of UK 4 armoured brigade . Only idiots who have never served keep banging on about the French defeat in WW2. By the way majority of French soldiers were returned to France from UK days after Dunkirk. Fought the germans again but were captured. Only one enemy we need to be focused on. Russia

[@Reticulosis]

Man, those French parachutes are no joke, those dudes are like a meteor, how bad are their knees? God, they must have knee replacements after a couple years

[@righteousbyfaithinChrist]

Vive la France❤️🙏Estonia❤️🙏🇬🇧❤️🙏🇺🇸

[@corruptcape2776]

May we all go together united against the threats that we commonly face as friends. Long live France, Estonia, the United States and Great Britain.

[@D.Frasure]

Thank you for fighting for freedom brothers. God be with you and keep you safe.

[@collectionneur111]

Merci :)

[@hoilst265]

Tres bien!

[@jameskellard5075]

The RAF say it will not be possible to drop paratroopers from the new Atlas aircraft but they might, in a few years, be able to drop selected members of the special forces in very special circumstances. The RAF also claim that the C17 is generally unsuitable for the parachute role but fortunately no one told the USAF who use it that role almost daily. Seen here is a French Airforce Atlas dropping French paratroopers, as they do regularly, which tells you more about the RAF than the RAF might want you to know

[@Nettempereur]

At first, the French army was facing the same issue. It was impossible to jump from the side of the A400M because of the engine, the wind was too strong. It was quite a scandal because we were literally paying for that purpose and the Transall was about to be decommissioned soon (effective by now). Armée de l'Air's pilots and Army paratroopers worked together. First, they validated the procedure to jump from the back of the plane (mostly commandos do that). Then, they validated the procedure to jump from one side only. Pilots have a part of play I believe, but I don't have information enough. Finally, the procedure to jump from both sides was validated and I have seen several videos with French paratroopers jumping both sides from A400M. So, it's doable. GIven the cooperation between French and British militaries, they must have shared the procedure (or the British may have found it too). So I would be surprised if the RAF do not do the same with British paratroopers soon enough.

[@Louis-ej1lx]

RAF never said that. The capability is just delayed. Jet aircraft aren’t optimal to jump out of.

[@rammingspeed5217]

And who do they anticipate they will be fighting?

[@TheTraveller20081]

​@@rammingspeed5217 derrrr...... You really have to ask?

[@rammingspeed5217]

@@TheTraveller20081 who has attacked us?

[@thomassecurename3152]

EU/NATO standing to stop Russian bloodlust. Proud to be with you.

[@jjsmallpiece9234]

Hope their IT support is better than Microsoft

[@ratchet2505]

Wait........ Didn't they say you can't to an air jump from the A400 in the government review? (In the UK)

[@collectionneur111]

Currently, the combined arms sub-group [S/GTIA] deployed in Estonia within the multinational battalion led by the United Kingdom within the framework of NATO [eFP BG Estonia] is armed by units of the 13th Battalion of Alpine Hunters [BCA], supported by elements of the 2nd Foreign Engineer Regiment [REG] and the 93rd Mountain Artillery Regiment [RAM]. This detachment from the 27th Mountain Infantry Brigade [BIM]

[@VanderlyndenJengold]

Legend has it that the French parachutes are the shape of Marie Antoinette 's wotsits... this 'joke' was brought to you from the 1970s.

[@VanderlyndenJengold]

@@gordonfreeman1359 I think the joke petered out in the 1970s, as that was peak sexism.

[@etorepugatti9196]

@@miramoche8901 The pun dates back to before the invention of the parachute.

[@AuxaneST]

This applies to Champagne cups but not parachutes.

[@warskye5686]

BRAVO PATRIOTS BRAVO

[@eanerickson8915]

Airborne forces are the new horse mounted cavalry.

[@whya2ndaccount]

Not really an operational insertion - middle of the day. They might as well land and then just walk off the aircraft.

[@georgegeorgakopoulos5956]

In Forces News We Trust

[@jayhollyoake9419]

✈✈✈

[@tomhenry897]

Believe only a heavy battion not even a brigade

[@rammingspeed5217]

A battalion of men are lost every week in Ukraine.. They say the UK would run out of Ammo in 2 weeks if they were fighting Russia at the same rate of Fire as Ukraine

[@davecooke3587]

Yer okay... you wait until the fighting starts.

[@patlelion]

French army is actually one or even the best in Europe, I wouldn’t underestimate their military capacities

[@Glorymoon97]

This is what should be happening. The stronger countries in Europe should be stepping up to allow the US to take a step back and become an equal partner in NATO. We have more pressing issues to focus on, and we can't keep defending two theaters at once. I know our military is designed for it, but not for such a period as long as we have.

[@garagenigel]

I think it's in the USA's interest to stay in the NATO lead! If Russia progresses in Ukraine the dollar could be replaced by the ruble or yen!

[@Glorymoon97]

@Nigel Garage What? No chance. The Ruble and Yen are so inflated that they make our gas prices look cheap. I'm not saying there's no chance. Anything can happen. But the chances of that happening are slim to none. $1 is equal to 81 rubles. Edit: The Yen is 138.77 to every $1.

[@garagenigel]

@@Glorymoon97 well that went over your head didn't it! Shall I put it in simple terms for you?? If Ukraine lose! China and/or Russia become leaders of the world! The Alpha! The daddy! Fact!

[@Iain1962]

Where are they going to deploy? If Ukraine can shoot down 52 out of 54 drones, then I really don't fancy dangling from a Parachute.

[@davebetney]

Good job they aren't invading Ukraine then isn't it!?

[@rockfella1377]

You do understand that during a war a parachute insertion is guarded by surpress air defence fighter/bombers and attack helicopters? Any and all radar that turns on is blown up.

[@kampfmuffin3535]

I mean u probably dont drop them of like WW2 on D-Day. They probably just look for spots without AA. Ofc on a warzone u can never be sure but thats just the risk u take as a soldier

[@Iain1962]

@@kampfmuffin3535 Sure looks like they are jumping out of a plane, exactly like in WWII, how else would you do it?

[@Iain1962]

@@rockfella1377 You do understand that the Russians also have defensive measures? They can also detect and blow up any of our radar that gets turned on.

[@zobius9191]

Anyone on the internet owes a debt to the Americas, The EU, or Korean and Japan. You're welcome. Stop self-hating the ideology that allows you to play video games, speak freely without being being thrown into a van and vanishing. France has come a long way since WW2 over 75 years ago. Joining NATO requires a complete overhaul of a nations Military strategy, especially logistically. The strength of NATO lies in the fact that if ANY of the 30+ nations is attacked, the other 30+ nations vow to defend them, support them financially and logistically, and militarily. Do more research.

[@geoffmoore7629]

No problem with the French being our friends and allies from me

[@jimthefinger7391]

French troops are notorious for the liking of old school Royal Navy ships biscuit. They spread each others seminal fluid on them washed down with a Australian red wine before they jump.

[@alejandrosotomartin9720]

Hope they stand for more than 40 days before surrender.

[@etorepugatti9196]

Says the keybord warrior who has never fought ! 🖕

[@alejandrosotomartin9720]

@@etorepugatti9196 Neither them in a war. On the contrary the morocans here are quite calm cuz they know what will come to them if they do dirty things. On the contrary in France they reign like Louis XIV.

[@rammingspeed5217]

"NATOS Eastern border"? You mean the one that expanded right up to Russias border?

[@Crissy_the_wonder]

Because nations bordering Russia know what Russian occupation is like and want security guarantees. The only actual threat to Russia is the corruption and authoritarianism of Putin, and his need for external manufactured crisis and conflict as a distraction tactic

[@borisjohnson2498]

Have they surrendered yet?

[@d_klem_4730]

Hahaha 😐 You're probably the joker in your family now 🇫🇷: 1115 battles won 🥇 your country can’t say the same then 🤫

[@barrtwattz5246]

Country with the most win in history in europe

[@Diegomax22]

@@barrtwattz5246 *world

[@jackofswords7]

😅🤣😂 They couldn't defend Disneyland.

[@VanderlyndenJengold]

Who'd want to?

[@eprofessio]

Oh God. Please protect Estonia as they are being protected by the French. My question is who are protecting the French. Oh wait they just said the English. I guess Americans better enjoy the break because we are going to be very active if the French have to fight.

[@cherokeeglock]

Once again, the comment of an overweight American incapable of going to fight for his country!! I fought alongside the French in Afghanistan, and they were very good soldiers, brave and willing. They have nothing to envy the USA. We just need to focus on the common enemy that the USA, France, and Estonia have... Russia

[@babart83]

very very poor knowledge.

[@eprofessio]

@@babart83 get over yourself. Everyone knows the French are a bunch of weenies.

[@tituspullo9210]

If I was Estonia, I would be worried, given the performance of France in the two world wars 😂 But on the upside, if anything should happen, there would be a lot of second hand, high quality French equipment for sale in the aftermath - never fired and dropped only once 😋

[@andresmartinezramos7513]

You do realize that France finished WW1 with the strongest army, strongest air force and second strongest navy in the world?

[@jackofswords7]

😅🤣

[@jackofswords7]

@@andresmartinezramos7513 Then came WW2.

[@lachlanchester8142]

@@jackofswords7 sure judge their army by a war nearly a century ago not by their very successful operations in mali

[@kutter_ttl6786]

🤡 Clown comment

[@robertthomson4978]

I'd be worried if the French were defending my country.....

[@CHLM98]

Why?

[@springer3783]

@@CHLM98 The French are very flakey , there on your side as long as it requires no sacrifice at home.

[@lqs1w68]

You should worry about fixing your own stupidity and leave defense matters to more qualified and competent people from your country.....

[@zefyrisd69]

@@springer3783 that's absolutely not true. You're just spreading disinformation. France has waged war for one and half millennium. In almost all cases, they properly assisted their allies. Compared to them, most countries that waged lots of war were way more "flaky". Including their neighbour England, btw. And including USA, too.

[@florentleider222]

What country ? a country unable to defend itself ? so you 'd prefre to see French defend your country while you flee elsewhere as a chicken ?